Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, says he underestimated his Rivers counterpart Siminalayi Fubara, in terms of the delivery of good governance in the state despite the political battle he is facing in the hands of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Mohammed said this on Saturday, during the inauguration of a 14.1 kilometre road project in Omuma Local Government of Rivers.
Fubara and Wike have been at loggerheads over the control of the state, since the latter helped the former become governor in 2023.
The rift with Wike has sharply divided the state house of assembly that has continued opearate as factions.
At the commissioning of the project, Fubara, said he has been delivering projects even when his political opponents thought they had weakened his administration.
Fubara said the project would lead to the development of the area.
“We are here, I don’t want to sing praises about this administration because governance is about serving the people, providing services, and protecting lives,” Nelson Chukwudi, chief press secretary to the governor, quoted him as saying.
“If we don’t tell our stories, nobody is going to tell it for us. So, we have decided to tell the world, showcase to the world what we have done.
“When they thought we were being emasculated, we were behind working, and this is one of those things we have done quietly to showcase that the interest of our people is paramount in our administration.
“This project we are about to inaugurate today is a 14.1 kilometer project. It is a project that starts from Eberi, in fact for me, it is an inter-state project because it takes you from Rivers state to Abia state, and you can imagine the significance of this project.
“It is not about me. I am not the one doing it with my resources. It is just that I am the one managing and directing the affairs of the state.”
Mohammed, who is the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, said there is hope for Nigeria because Fubara is establishing good governance in his state.
“Governor Siminalayi Fubara is not only a simple, sincere, very polite and quiet person, but a performer per excellence,” he said.
“Mr Governor, I am sorry that I underestimated you. When you told me that there is no need to join issues, there is no need to be worried, and that you were never provoked, I have seen that today, because in the midst of all the distractions,
“I have seen work being done.”
Promise Reginald, chair of the Omuma LGA, said the project has given hope and a sense of belonging to the Omuma people.
